Feed mechanism for wire-fabric machines.



No. 68!,9l6. Patented Sept. 3, l90l. V. HOXIE & W. H. BURNHAM.

.FEED MECHANISM FOR WIRE FABRlG MACHINES.

(Application filed June 17, 1901.)

2 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

m: nouns PETERS cc, vnorouma. WASH No. 68|,9l6. Patented Sept. 3, I90l. V. HOXIE &. W. H. BURNHAM. FEED MECHANISM FOR WIRE FABRIC MACHINES.

(Application filed June 17, 1901.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES- PATENT rricn.

VERNON l-IOXIE AND WVILLIAM II. BURNHAM, OF ADRIAN, MICHIGAN.

FEED MECHANISM FOR WIRE-FABRIC MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 681,916, dated September 3, 1901.

Application filed June 17, 1901. Serial No. 64,899. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, VERNON I-IOXIE and WILLIAM H. BURNHAM, citizens of the United States, residing at Adrian, in the county of Lenawee and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Feed Mechanism for 'Wire-Fabric Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to feed mechanism for wire-fabric machines, and the intent and purpose of the same are to overcome serious disadvantages heretofore encountered in weaving wire fabrics.

In stretching a woven-wire fabric made by machinery great difficulty and annoyance are experienced if the strand-wires be of unequal length, and the effectiveness and appearance of the fabric are greatlyimpaired if the strain be thrown upon a few of the strand-wires instead of being equally distributed among all of them. The present form of device is designed to overcome the difficulties and experiences detrimental to wire-fabric manufacture heretofore encountered by maintaining a uniformity of length in lateral or strand Wires of a woven-wire fabric, and this desirable result is attained by means of the mechanism which will be more fully hereinafter explained and claimed and subject to a wide rangeof modification in the form, size,proportions, and minor details within the purview of the invention, and while practical forms will be hereinafter set forth it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise construction which will be disclosed in relation thereto.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a mechanical organization embodying the features of the invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section through the same. Fig. 3 is aftop plan view of a portion of the mechanism. Fig. et is a top plan view of a portion of a cylinder embodying the features of the invention.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts in the several views.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2, and 3, the numeral 1 designates a wheel of suitable diameter having a rim 2, provided with outstanding pins 3,

placed at intervals and so arranged as to defleet the wire encircling the wheel from a straight line and by this means prevent the possibility of slipping and compelling an absolutely equal feed as regards length of the strand-wires which encircle the wheel. This wheel is secured to a shaft 4:, which is actuated either by the winding mechanism of the fabric-machine to which this device may be attached or by separate connections working in conjunction with such mechanism. The pins 3 are pointed and are so disposed that one pin will be located centrally opposite the spaces between two of the same. Above the wheel an arm 4 is pivotally mounted on a suitable support and has thereon a weight 5, which is adjustable to vary the pressure of the free end of the said arm and freely rota table on the free end of the arm, and carried by the latter is a follower 6, which is so positioned with relation to the wheel 1 as to be bisected by the vertical diameter of the latter. This follower has a plurality of radial .slots 7 to receive the pointed pins 3, the slots being transversely long enough to take in all the pins. The object of this follower is to hold the wire strands down close to the periphery of the wheel between the pins to prevent the same from slipping, and thereby maintain the desirable equality of strain.

Instead of the single wheel a series of the.

same may be employed on the same shaft, and this arrangement would be an obvious duplication, and as another modification the pins 3 are shown applied to a drum 8 in Fig. 4, the said drum being a further obvious expedient to arrive at the result sought,.and this chain of modifications might be indefinitely expressed and disclosed; but as the same principle is embodied in all it is considered that the practical forms illustrated will show the intent to cover all such modifications as embody the salient features of the invention. The follower construction will also be used With the drum, and in both the wheel and drum construction the said follower will cause the wire strands to closely follow the circumference of such devices, and the pressure of the follower may be regulated at will.

Where a number of different-gage Wires are used in the lateral strands of the fabric, the exact diameter of the Wheels must vary according to the diameter of the Wire to insure the uniformity of length sought.

Having thus described the invention, What is claimed as new is 1. In a device of the class set forth, the

I combination of a rotatable member having a plurality of outstanding pins in the circumference thereof, and a traveler arranged over the said rotatable member.

2. In a device of the class set forth, the combination of a rotatable member having peripheral projections, and means for holding a wire strand down between said projections to bear closely 011 the circumference of the member.

3. In a device of the class set forth, the combination of a rotatable member having circumferential projections spaced apart from each other and so arranged as to deflect a wire strand encircling the member from a straight line, and means for holding the wire strand down between said projections.

4. In a device of the class set forth, the combination of a rotatable member having means on the circumference thereof for holding a Wire therearound, and means for causing said wire to closely lie against the circumference of said member. 1

5. In a device of the class set forth, a rotatable member having regularly-arranged projecting means for receiving and holding a wire around the circumference thereof and deflecting said wire from a straight circumferential line.

6. In a device of the class set forth, a rotatable member having circumferential projections spaced apart from each other, and slotted means over said member to receive the projections and hold the encircling wire to the periphery of the rotatable member.

7. In a device of the class set forth, a rotatable member having circumferential projections spaced apart from each other and so arranged as to deflect a wire strand encircling the member from a straight line, and a follower having transversely extended slots therein to receive the said projections.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own we have hereto affixed our signatures in the presence of two witnesses.

VERNON HOXIE. I WILLIAM H. BURNHAM. Witnesses:

GEO. T. MOSHER, W. A. HOISINGTON. 

